OCT 5 — Malaysia and Libya have the same Internet freedom ranking, which is 23 out of 47 countries. We trail behind countries such as the Philippines, Ukraine, Georgia, Uganda and Kyrgyzstan.

This is according to a recent study done by Freedom House, an independent watchdog organisation that monitors freedom around the world, called Freedom on the Net 2012.

In fact, the report even puts Malaysia under its list of countries at risk, which consists of another five countries (Russia, Sri Lanka, Libya, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Rwanda).

Malaysia definitely didn’t start out this way when it came to Internet freedom. It started with former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s declaration that the country would never censor the Internet.

Fast forward about a decade later, Malaysia has sort of still stayed true to the promise made by the old man even if he has retired from office. But I guess the powers-that-be didn’t anticipate the good that would come to the Malaysian people and its society with having an Internet that is free. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]

SEPT 14 — If there is one thing that I hate to death, it is spam. Getting spam email is one of the most annoying things ever. Even more annoying are spam SMSes… you know, the ones that tell you about cheap beer at various nightclubs or discounts at popular restaurants. But recently, the most annoying spam SMSes I have received are from a certain politician and Cabinet minister who goes by the name of Raja Nong Chik.

It started when I decided to register to vote slightly less than a year ago. Registration went fine with no glitches (i.e. suddenly finding out I’m registered to vote in Sabah!) My constituency, according to my IC address, is Lembah Pantai. As we know, the current MP in that area is PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar. Since I didn’t vote in the last general election, I can’t claim to have played a role in getting her into office.

And now that the 13th general election is coming up, rumour has it that Umno will be fielding Raja Nong Chik in Lembah Pantai. Now right after I had registered to vote (at the Election Commission office in Shah Alam), I started receiving the SMSes. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]

SEPT 7 — Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Tunku Ahmad Nerang, the son of the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s first prime minister. At 79 years old, slightly over six feet in height, and with a booming voice, one could get carried away that one is actually with the former prime minister himself.

My chat with him made me realise many things. I realised that Tunku Nerang and his family feel a sense of pride being of Tunku Abdul Rahman’s lineage. And this should rightfully be. Tunku Abdul Rahman was a great man who contributed and sacrificed a lot for the country.

I also realised that it was a different time then compared to now. It was a time when things were much simpler and happier.

“My father used to say that he was the poorest prime minister and also the happiest prime minister,” said Tunku Nerang.

Although I never met the man, from the stories I heard of him, it sounded like he was a very carefree person, yet very honest and sincere. And because of him, it gave me the impression that the country of Malaysia (or the Federation of Malaya) at that time was one that was carefree, honest and sincere too. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]

AUG 3 — Rumours have been rife and everyone in Malaysia has been trying to predict when the prime minister is going to call for elections. It seems to many that the longer they wait, the more incidents are going to happen to jeopardise their chances of doing well in the elections.

Take this month of August, for instance. What has been happening in this month alone, and from just one government ministry, is enough to be a case study. It all started when Rais Yatim’s Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture announced the National Day celebration campaign.

The fact that Malaysia needs a campaign and theme is already sad enough, but when the National Day slogan was revealed, all hell broke loose. “Janji Ditepati” stank of political campaigning on the ruling party’s side but, of course, Rais had to defend it.

“When we’ve done something good, it means we’ve fulfilled our commitment, we’ve done it, so it’s not wrong to say so,” is what he was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times.

My favourite reaction amongst Malaysian is the online hashtag of #JanjDicapati, and in particular, when the faux Samy Vellu Twitter account posted: “Wife complains I never do any work so I promised to cook dinner. She was surprised when I cooked capati and kept my promise. Janji Dicapati.” [Click to read the rest of the article at The Malaysian Insider]

Like this:

The Fat Bidin Podcast

The Fat Bidin Podcast (Eps 36) - Human rights in Malaysia

Amnesty International recently released its report on the state of the world's human rights and its Malaysian chapter says our country's status is deteriorating. Zan and Aizyl discuss freedom of expression, religious discrimination and Amnesty International's forecast on further infringements we may face in the coming couple of years.

My latest book (a non-fiction graphic novel) is now on sale! Help me feed my daughter by buying it today!

ADVENTURES OF A KL-ITE IN AFGHANISTAN
(Story by Zan Azlee, illustrations by Arif Rafhan Othman; 2014)

‘Adventures of a KL-ite in Afghanistan’ is one of the many retellings of Zan Azlee’s travels in Afghanistan. He is a multimedia journalist who has been to many conflict zones including Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Turkey and Southern Thailand. Nevertheless, he still cowers like a coward when he hears gunfire!

Zan was keen to find out more about the war-torn country, and what it might be like to be there. Armed with only his camera gear and an open mind, he travels to Afghanistan with no idea what he is getting himself to. He ends up meeting many interesting figures, visits several ‘tourist spots’, and even gets embedded with the Malaysian army in Afghanistan.

*The book can be found at any major bookstore or can be purchased online at the Fat Bidin e-Store below.

Own original Fat Bidin films (DVDs), books and merchandise!

Fat Bidin YouTubes!

Guide to Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite
Part 3 of 10
'Ahmad Shah Massoud the Martyr'
And they celebrate a hero like they're going to war!

Full Synopsis:
Zan Azlee, a Malaysian KL-ite journalist who has lived all his life in non-conflict zones, travels to Afghanistan to see if he can come up with the best travel guide for the country. With no idea what he is getting himself into, he dodges suicide bombers and IEDs, and even gets embedded with the army, to plan out the best tourist route in Afghanistan.

About

My name is Zan Azlee. I’m a MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST, DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER, WRITER and a NEW MEDIA CONTENT CONSULTANT. I'm a mass-comm LECTURER at several local universites. I run FAT BIDIN MEDIA. I'm currenly also EDITOR for MAGAZINE PROGRAMMING at ASTRO AWANI.
*My views and opinions do not represent the views and opinions of the company/organisations I work or am attached with.